Today is Veterans Day, a day on which we should all pause to consider the sacrifices made by those in our armed services. Last year I posted an article detailing the history of Veterans Day and I encourage you to take a look at that article to find that information.
This year, I thought it appropriate to take a somewhat different approach in writing about this holiday.
Every now and then, I run across a good book that has been out for a while and which escaped my attention. Such was the case with David Maraniss‘ They Marched into Sunlight which was published in 2003.
Maraniss, an editor at the Washington Post, crafted an excellent non-fiction book which is actually two stories with the crescendo event of both occurring in the October 17-18, 1967 two-day period.
In response to my article on Veterans Day last week, I received a note from a retired general, Brig. Gen Joe Schafer. Joe is a professor at American Military University and an alumnus as well and he shared his thoughts about Veterans Day. I thought that his piece not only embraced many of my thoughts about those who serve our country, but also provided a great perspective on the attitude of the professional soldier toward the change in administrations and our Commanders in Chief.
Today the United States Marines Corps is celebrating its 233rd birthday! On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress established two battalions of soldiers to serve as the Continental Marines.
Before I provide you with the rest of the history of the Marine Corps, I need to disclose that our founder, Major James Etter, was an enlisted Marine in Vietnam and after attending college on the GI Bill after the war, became a Marine aviator.